Self-rinsing sink



Aug. 19, 1958 J. w. JACOBS 2,347,681

SELF-RINSING SINK Filed May 14, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVEN R 6 Jame: WJac ZAQ HIS ATTORNEY 1 1958 J. w. JACOBS 2,847,681

SELF-RINSING SINK Filed May 14, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR.

James W Jacobs HIS ATTORNEY Aug. 19, 1958 J. w. JACOBS 2,347,681

SELF-RINSING SINK Filed May 14, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN V EN TOR.

Jame: 74 Jacob: BY

HIS ATTORNEY Aug. 19, 1958 J. w. JACOBS 2,847,681

SELF-RINSING smx Filed May 14, 1956 5 Shes L's-Sheet 5 I 5 I05 /6 107 IW 104 t w 5/ 0 ll 4 57 n7 9 I I I M Z 4 /zz i 1: 5

IN VEN TOR.

James 14/. Jacob: BY

' Hi5 ATTORNEY United States PatentO SELF-RINSING SINK .James W. Jacobs,Dayton, hio,=assignor to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich., acorporation of Delaware Application May 14,1956, SerialNo. 584,514

6 Claims. (Cl. l-+1 87) This invention relates to a domestic applianceand rnore particularly to a sink that is provided with'a rinsing ringthat is adapted to direct a rinsing'fluidagainst'the "inner 1 walls ofthe sink.

An objectof the invention is-to provide'means asso- -cia tedwith'a sinkorreceptacle for 'tlirecting'a rinsing fluid-against one or more of theinner'wallsof the same.

Another object is toprovide a rinsing'ring 'that is adapted to beattached to a sink for 'directingfiuidagainst the walls of the sink.

A further object is toprovide control meansfor selectively supplying arinsing ring or a' conventional spout from a suitable fluidsupplysource.

Stillanother object is'to prevent the back-flowof fluid from the sinkthrough a'rinsing ring "and in-tothe water supply feeding the rinsingring to preclude contaminating the Water supply.

Further objects and advantages-of the "present invention will becomeapparent from the followingdescription,

' reference being held to the accompanying drawings wherein a preferrederr1bodiment of the present-inventionds li-n the drawings: Figure 1 is-aperspective'view showing a sink structure thatisiprovided with a *valvecontrol box forselectively supplying fluid to a rinsing ring t or to 'aconventional =spout;

"Figure 2 is a top-view-oftheva'lvecontrol boxtsho-wn in Figure l withparts '"broken-=away;

Figure 3 'is a fragmentary :sectional view taken-along i Figure '4 is asectional viewtaken along lines 4- 4 of *Figure 2 and "showing thearrangement of'the rinsing wring and sink howl;

FigureS is a fragmentarysectional view taken on lines FFigure :6 I is afragmentary sectional viewttaken along tlines-6-6tof Figure- 4;

ing'ring 'controlmeans'ma'de in'accordance with this in- Y -vention;

'Figure l2'is a 'schematic"illustration (if a-niodified "flow "controlcircuitwherein the iliverter valve is=1ec- "trica'lly c actuated;

Figure 13 is a sectional view of a modified' control valve for therinsing ring;

iFigure 'I4 is a sectional View taken =alongilines 14-4! of Figure .13and iFiguIeJIS ris'aasectional view taken along .linesiS-m-IS :df Figure13.

counter material In and 1c.

The rinsing ring of this invention is adapted .to be used'with'the sinkstructure shown'inFig. 1. The sink Structurecomprisesa sink counter-top"1 made ofsuitable heat andwaterresistant material, the counter-top*beingsecure'dto and supported byalower cabinet struc- -ture 3. -A-sink"bowl, "generally "denoted by reference *numerali, is secured tothe sinkcounter-topbycmeans more particularly shown in'Fig. 4. The bottom of the"sink'bowl ismade in two levels comprising a bottom wall"7 and a wallportion 9 disposed above the bottom wall 7. Thelower wa'll"7 isprovided'with a drainll "that is disposed at one corner of the sinkbowl. 'Avalve control box,;generally denoted-by reference numeral13,is'secured to 'thesink'counter-top. "The'controlibox is provided with ahandle '15"that"controls the? temperature an'd'volume of thewaterbeingsupplid to a .spoutf17 'and "ma -circumferentia 'lly extendingrinsingring :19; in a manner-to be *niore fully described"hereinafter.The control box is alsoiprovidedwith apair'ofmanually actu able'knobs21and23. The knob 21 forms apart .of -a conventional-'-toggle switchwhich isused to complete a circuivfora garbage disposal-electric motor,'Whilethe 'knob -23isused to actuate a diverter valve, shownin Fig. 2.

The" sink counter-top 1, as shown in "Fig. 4, comprises a metalreinforcing-strip 1b to which is'molded "sink The sink counter materialla-'is'ma'de thick'enough to accornmodatea sinkmount- "ing bolt "25. Theheadpfbolt 25 engages ailat'metal "reinforcing "ring 25a that extendsentirely around the "sink, while the threaded-portion "of the bolt isthreaded intocounter'material In. 'It is *to be-understoddthat a'plurality'of b'olts25- 'hold the 'sinkbowl 5and"rinsing ring "orshiel'dmember IQ intight'engagement withthe "sink counter-top and serve asmounting means for both the sink an'dthe rinsing ring. Therinsingring 19extends entirely around the sink bowl and isypreferably'made "ofsuitable "metal material. 'The ring is formed with a lower portion 19athatengages 'a vertical wall28'of the sink bowl and with "a vertically--extending portion 19b. Vertically extending portion 19b merges into "acurved "portion 190- that extendsintoaho1izontally disposed rim portion19d. suitable sealing compound maybe disposed between the "rimportionand the counter-top and betweenther'im portion and thesink. The lowerportion "19d of the rinsing ring is arrangedwith slots 27,'as more"particularly shown in Fig.6. These slots may takeany form andmightbetriangularly' shaped byform'ing them "with atriangularly"shapedfile. "From the foregoingflt is apparent that the rinsing-ring ll9'andsidewall 28 of the sinkbowlform a cavity"2-'9. The sidewall 28"of"'thesink' has an aperture 30 that is connected" with' a 'rinsingringsupplypipe31. Fluid enteringthe cavity-'29 from "supply-pipe31-"will"fintl its "way through passages 27 'and' fio'w along the innerside ofwalh zs to'rinse 'the same. "The timing ring will thusdirect-water along the inner walls-of the"s'ink to-rinse"a'ny material'collecting 'on 'the "sink walls-'tlownwardlyinto drain l1,-which= maybe connected with a conventional garbage disposal --unit "(not showri),under control alo'f =knob 21. The rinsing "ring lias particular utilitywhen used with a =t-wolevel sir'1k, as disclosed herein. Thus, the upperlevel 9*.of the-sink niay be used as a-cleaning support for vegetablesand the dike, the scraps remaining aftericleaning 1 the v'egetables'being washed into drain 511 by water issuing from :the "rinsingtring.

'I he 'iinsing .ring'supply :pipe 3.1 is connected with a chamber3311formedin the mainshousingl 35 of valve :control box.:=13, :as"bettershown in Fig. 2. The valve control cbt'ox 'comprisest amainlhousing or casting -35 having :a bore :37 .formed: therein. Asleeve 39 is mounted .within bore 37 by :suitable means such as rthreads41 formed valve rod 49 rightwardly, as shown in Fig. 3.

on sleeve 39. The valve sleeve 39 has a chamber 40 formed therein, thatcommunicates with bore 37 by means of a plurality of radial passages 42.A pair of O-rings 44 encircle reduced portions of the valve sleeve topreclude leakage of fluid from within valve sleeve 39. A

v valve housing member 43 is threaded onto sleeve 39 and is formed withports 45 and 47 and a cylindrically shaped chamber 46. The ports 45 and47 are adapted to be connected, respectively, to cold and hot fluidsupply lines 45a and 47a. A valve rod 49 having a valve portion 51 isdisposed within sleeve 39 and valve member 43, and is free to rotate orto be moved longitudinally therein. The valve rod is connected to anactuating handle and passes through a packing nut 53 and packing 55 thatact to preclude leakage of fluid between valve rod 49 and sleeve 39. Amovable cylindrical valve part 57 is secured to valve rod 49 by means ofa pin 59, thus insuring that the valve part 57 will partake of any axialand rotational movement of valve rod 49. The cylindrical valve part 57has a circumferentially and radially extending passage 61 thatcommunicates with a port 62 formed in the valve part 57.

The valve housing 35 is provided with another bore 56 that is closed atone end by a plug 63. A diverter valve rod 64 is disposed within chamber33 and bore 56. The diverter valve rod 64 carries a valve 65 made ofrubber or other suitable material, that normally seats against the openend of chamber 33. The valve is spring biased to the position shown inFig. 2 by a spring 66 that is disposed within a chamber 67 formed inplug 63. The knob 23 is secured to the rod 64 in order that the valvemay be manually shifted to seat against the open end of chamber 67. Adrilled passage 68 connects the 'bore 37 with bore 56. Another drilledpassage 69 extends downwardly from chamber 67 and bore 56 and connectsthis chamber with the spout 17. The passages 68 and 69 are connected bya vacuum breaker passage 70. The vacuum breaker passage insures that thepassage 68 will always be connected with atmospheric pressure viapassage 69 and spout 17.

The valve rod 49 is actuated by a handle 15 having a shank portion 71,as more particularly shown in Fig. 4. The handle is adapted to berotated to rotate valve rod 49 or to move valve rod 49 longitudinally byan upward or downward movement of handle 15. A retaining ring 73 isfitted within a peripheral slot 74 formed in the main housing 35 andencircles shank portion 71. The retaining ring has an inwardlyprojecting portion 76 that lies within a slot 72 formed in shank portion71, as more particularly shown in Fig. 5. With this construction, it isapparent that the retaining ring rotates with a rotation of handle 15but does not preclude upward and downward movement of handle 15. Thevalve rod 49 is secured to shank 71 by a pin 75. A pivot link 77 ispivotally connected to shank 71 by means of a pin 78 and abuts theretaining ring 73 at one end and another retaining ring 79 at anopposite end. Thus, when handle 15 is pulled downwardly, the handlepivots around pin I 78 and operates to move valve rod 49 leftwardly, as

shown in Fig. 4. When handle 15 is moved upwardly, the shank 71 againpivots around pin 78 to move the The pivot link 77 is precluded fromlongitudinal movement when the handle is moved upwardly or downwardly bythe retaining rings 73 and 79.

The operation of the valve mechanism shown in Figs. 2 and 4 will now bedescribed. Fluid entering ports 45 and 47 is normally blocked from theremainder of the valve mechanism by cylindrical valve member 57. Whenvalve member 57 is shifted to the right, as shown in Fig.

2, the passage 61 communicates with either port 45 or port 47 or withboth, depending upon the angular position of passage 61. The passage 61extends circumferentially around cylindrical valve member 57 toapproximately half of the total circumference of valve member 57, ininstallation where ports 45 and 47 are spaced approximately 180 apart.Thus, passage 61, when shifted rightwardly in Fig. 2 may communicatewith both ports 45 and 47 to permit the mixture of hot and cold water toflow into a chamber 58 formed between valve sleeve 39 and valve member43. If the valve member 57 is rotated to a position wherein passage 61communipart 800 that are welded or brazed together.

to chamber 58. In a like manner, when the valve member 57 is rotated sothat passage 61 only communicates with the hot water port 47, only hotwater is supplied to chamber 58. Thus, it is seen that the valve member57 operates to control the mixing of hot and cold water by a rotationthereof and may be rotated to various positions over a 180 range tosupply chamber 58 with hot or cold water or a mixture of each. Whenvalve member 57 is shifted rightwardly in Fig. 2, the valve 51 islikewise shifted to place the chamber 58 in communication with chamber40 and radial ports 42. The water issuing from radial ports 42 flowsthrough passage 68 toward diverter valve 65. If the diverter valve is inthe position shown in Fig. 2, the water in passage 68 will pass intochamber 67, thence into passage 69 and into spout 17 that is connectedwith passage 69. If the diverter valve is shifted by longitudinalmovement of knob 23, the flow passage to chamber 67 is cut off, whilechamber 33 is opened to passage 68 for the passage of fluid into tube 31that connects with the rinsing ring 19. It is thus apparent that passage68 is supplied with a predetermined volume of water having apredetermined temperature, the temperature of the water being controlledby rotational movement of handle 15 and the volume by upward anddownward movement of handle 15. Moreover, it is apparent that divertervalve 65 operates to selectively supply the rinsing ring 19 or the spout17 from passage 68.

Referring now to Fig. 7, a modified rinsing ring 80 is shown secured toa sink counter-top 81 and to a sink bowl 82 by means of a screw 83. Itis to be understood that the rinsing ring extends entirely around theinner peripheral wall of the sink and that a plurality of screws 83 areused for mounting the ring. The rinsing ring is bent to form a cavity ortrough 84 that may be supplied with fluid by means of a tube 85. A wall86 of the trough 84 is held spaced from sink bowl 82 by a plurality ofprotuberances 87. Thus, water being supplied to trough 84 will fill thetrough and overflow wall 86, where it will pass between wall 86 and sinkbowl 82 to rinse the inner wall of the sink. The provision of a troughor cavity insures that water will be evenly distributed around theentire periphery of the rinsing ring and sink in order to provide auniform rinsing action over all of the walls of the sink. The trough 84may be provided with small openings 88 spaced along the rinsing ring toallow the trough to drain when it is not being supplied by tube 85. Itis to be understood that the tube may be connected to the valvemechanism shown in Figs. 2 and 4 in a fashion similar to the connectionof tube 31 to the valve mechanism as shown in these figures.

Figure 8 illustrates another modified rinsing ring, generally denoted byreference numeral 801;. The rinsing ring is made of a metal inner part80b and a metal outer The two metal parts form an enclosed tube thatextends entirely around the sink. The outer part 800 of the rinsing ringis provided with an aperture 80d that directs water from within therinsing ring against the inner walls of the sink. It is to be understoodthat the rinsing ring is provided with a plurality of apertures 80d thatare located at spaced points around the rinsing ring. The rinsing ringis' secured to sink counter top 81a by means of a bolt 83a. The head ofthe bolt engages a metal reinforcing ring 83b, while the threaded end ofthe bolt is threaded into the counter top material. The rinsing ring t80a. is connected with a pipe 85a..that may besupplied by ..thevalvemechanism shown. in -Figs...2 .and.4.

.It is important. to provide means for .preventingrbackflow of waterfrom the sink into the water supplyline :shoulda vacuum occur therein.Thus in thecase where .diverter valve 65 connects passage 68 to rinsingringpipe .31, and where valves 51 and v57 are.open,.there is some.danger thata vacuum existingat port-s .45 M47 might .createa .backflowof fluid upthrough rinsing ring 19,

.throngh tube .31, chamber. 33, passage .68, radial passages 42 andintothe .water supply. This backflow is .efiectively precluded by asmall passage 70 which con- .nectspassages 68 and 69, the .passage69communicating with spout 17 and the atmosphere. Thus, the provisiontoftsmallpassage 70insures that anyvacuum .existingin ;,passage .68willbe broken by atmospheric pressure in spout.17.

tFigure9 illustrates another method. of preventing back- .flow of fluidfrom thesink into the water supply. In .this tfigure, a tube 89 isconnectedbetween .passage 69 .and .a vacuum breaker valve chamber90.A-passage 91 is connected between passage 68 and chamber 90. A checkvalve 92 rests on a raised valve portion 94 and is movableupwardlyto apositionwhere it. closes ofi? communication between tube 89 and passage91. A plurality of ports .95 are disposedbelow the valv'eportion 94 andconnect passage 91 with chamber 901whenthe valve is rresting on thevalve portion 94. Fluid being supplied ifrom :supply lines 45:: and 47athrough valves 51 :and 2'57 and into passage 68 normally holds valve-L92:against tvalve seat 96 so that no fluid may pass into tube 89.:However, if a vacuum should exist-in either fluid sup ;ply liner45a or47a and if either supply line is at that time connected by valves 57 and51 with passage 68, the valve 92 will move downwardly and rest on valveportion 94. In this position of the valve the passages 91 and 68 areconnected with atmospheric pressure via tube 89, passage 69 and spout17. With this arrangement, no vacuum can exist in passage 68 to pullfluid from sink 5 when diverter valve 65 is in a position connectingpassages 68 and tube 31. This structure is illustrated schematically inFig. wherein the valve 57 is connected with fluid supply lines 45a and47a. The diverter valve is denoted by reference numeral 65 and thevacuum breaking valve by reference numeral 92.

Fig. 11 illustrates schematically a modified arrangement for selectivelysupplying a rinsing ring and spout of a sink made in accordance withthis invention. In this figure a mixing valve 97 is connected with hotand cold fluid supply lines 98. The mixing valve may be similar to valve57 shown in Figs. 2 and 4 and is connected with a conventional spout 99.A diverter valve 100 similar to valve 65 as shown in Figs. 2 and 4 isconnected between one of the fluid supply lines and a rinsing ring 101that is preferably of the type shown in either 7 Figs. 4, 7 or 8. Withthis arrangement the rinsing ring is supplied independently of mixervalve 97.

Fig. 12 is a schematic representation of a system that is in allrespects identical with that of Fig. 11, except that the diverter valve100 is actuated by a solenoid 102. The solenoid is connected with asuitable source of voltage and is energized in response to the closingof switch 103.

Fig. 13 illustrates a modified method of selectively supplying a rinsingring and spout of a self-rinsing sink apparatus. The valve assembly ofthis figure comprises a mixing valve denoted generally by referencenumeral 104. The details of valve 104 are not shown but it is to beunderstood that the valve operates in a fashion similar to valve 57 ofFigs. 2 and 4. A valve rod 105 having a valve 106 is mounted Withinvalve housing 107. The valve rod 105 and valve 106 are similar to valverod 49 and valve 51 shown in Fig. 2. The valve rod is actuated by ahandle 108 that carries a pivot link 109 disposed between retainingrings 110 and 111. The

either side of thistposition.

nhandle, :pivot liIlk'1fl1'ld retaining rings cooperate in afashiomsimilarto .that of the handle, pivot linkandzre- .taining ringsshown in'Figs. 2 and 4. A. chamber .112 is disposed within valvehousing107. and connects with'passages 113..and 114. Passage114.connects witha spout .115 while passage.113 is connected-toapipe'116. It is ;rotated, the valve-sleeve 119 rotates therewith. Valve.119, as -more.particularly shownin .Fig. 14, connects chamberllZ .with,passage .11 3. or with,passage@11'4, dependingupon the angular positionof rod 105. Rotation of thehandle 108 180 from. its .vertical uprightposition shown in Fig. 13 .operates .to shift valve v119 toconnectchamber 112 and; pipe 116. It. -is to t be understood that .mixer valve104 controls the temperature of the water when the handle 108-isinitsluprightposition 'and when -the valvelis moved toeithertside of itsverticalup- .right,-position.shown in Fig. 13. The mixer valve :104:also operates tocontrol .the temperature of the water when the handle108 -is.in-atverticaltdownwardly disposed positionnand swhenthewhandleis rotated 90 to Thus the mixer valve 104 operates towcontrol thetemperature of the water :when

*thehandlea-nd valve 104 arerotatedin theupper180 range oriint the lower1 180 1 range. It will thus be appar- -ent that-. rotation of handle108, which in turn rotates valve-rod 105, will determine the temperatureof the =waterbeing supplied to; chamber: 112, by: rotational positioningof mixer valve .104. Rotationzof rod .105 1 simultaneously positionsvalve 119 to connect chamber 112 with the rinsing ring or with thespout. The valve rod also carries a cam follower 120 that cooperateswith a cam edge 121 formed on a sleeve 122. The sleeve 122 is staked tothe valve housing by a pin 123. When handle 108 and valve rod 105 arerotated, the cam follower 120 rides up on cam edge 121 to move the valverod 105 leftwardly in Fig. 13, thus moving valve 106 and mixer valve 104to a wide open position. The valve 119 is so positioned angularly withrespect to cam edge 121 that valves 106 and 104 move to wide openposition when the chamber 112 and tube 116 are connected by valve 119.The connecting of chamber 112 and tube 116 and the opening of valves 106and 104 by cam 121 preferably occurs when the handle 108 just reachesthe lower range of movement, that is, when the handle is rotated 90 fromits vertical upright position. Thus, when the rinsing ring is connectedto chamber 112 and the spout disconnected therefrom, the cam edge 121opens the valve mechanism to wide open position. With this arrangement,the operator may control the temperature and volume of the water beingsupplied to chamber 112 and also may control whether the water isdirected to the rinsing ring or to the spout by a single manual actuator108. Furthermore, the valves 104 and 106 are actuated to a wide openposition when the manual actuator 108 is rotated to connect the rinsingring and fluid supply lines.

While the embodiment of the present invention as herein disclosedconstitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other formsmight be adopted.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. In combination, a sink having an inner wall, a member formed with acavity mounted interiorly of said sink and in fixed relation to saidwall, said cavity having a wall spaced from said receptacle inner walland defining a passageway therewith, means for supplying said cavitywith fluid, and means spaced upwardly from the bottom of said cavity forpermitting flow between said cavity and said passageway.

2. In combination, a sink counter-top, a sink having an inner wallsecured to the under side of said sink counter-top, a separate memberformed with a cavity having a rim portion, said rim portion beinginterposed between said sink and the under side of said counter-topwhereby said member is mounted in fixed relation to said sink, saidmember having a wall spaced from said sink inner wall and defining apassageway therewith, means for supplying said cavity with fluid, andmeans spaced upwardly from the bottom of said cavity for permitting flowbetween said cavity and said passageway.

3. In combination, a receptacle, rinsing means mounted in fixed relationto said receptacle, a spout for supplying fluid to said receptacle, avalve housing having an inlet adapted to be connected to a fluid supplyline and having a chamber, a valve member normally blocking flow betweensaid inlet and chamber and axially movable to a fully open position forconnecting said inlet and chamher, said valve member being rotatablearound its longitudinal axis, means rotatable with said valve member forselectively connecting said rinsing means or said spout with saidchamber when said valve member is rotated, and means operative inresponse to a rotation of said valve member to a position where saidchamber and rinsing means are connected for axially moving said valvemember to fully open position.

4. In combination, a receptacle having an inner wall, a liquidcollecting member including a trough portion mounted in fixed relationto said wall, said trough portion having a vertically extending wallspaced from the inner wall of said receptacle whereby liquid collectingin said trough portion overflows said vertically extending wall andmoves downwardly between said receptacle inner wall and said verticallyextending wall, and means for supplying said trough with liquid.

5. In combination, a receptacle, rinsing means mounted in fixed relationto said receptacle, spout means for supplying fluid to said receptacle,a valve housing having an inlet adapted to be connected to a fluidsupply line and having a chamber, a valve member normally blocking flowbetween said inlet and chamber and axially movable for connecting saidinlet and chamber, said valve member being rotatable around itslongitudinal axis, and means rotatable with said valve member forselectively connecting said rinsing means or said spout means with saidchamber when said valve is rotated.

6. A valve mechanism comprising, a housing having an inlet adapted to beconnected to a fluid supply line and having a chamber, a spout outletand a rinse spray outlet in said housing, a valve member normallyblocking flow between said inlet and said chamber and axially movablefor connecting said inlet and chamber, said valve member being rotatablearound its longitudinal axis, and means rotatable with said valve memberfor selectively connecting said rinse spray outlet or said spout outletwith said chamber when said valve member is rotated.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS533,062 Hoelscher Jan. 29, 1895 755,109 Bussenius Mar. 22, 19041,633,582 Gould June 28, 1927 2,173,064 Judell Sept. 12, 1939 2,294,092Moody Aug. 25, 1942 2,609,206 Moen Sept. 2, 1952 2,741,258 Bletcher eta1. Apr. 10, 1956

